Informal Beginnings

Early records indicate that First Christian Church of Zanesville began with a group of young families who migrated from West Virginia to the Putnam area in the late 1860's and early 1870's. They brought with them the studies of Alexander Campbell, Barton W. Stone, and other "Restoration Movement" leaders. They found others in their neighborhood who shared their beliefs and they began meeting in their homes. As their numbers grew, they met in Haver's Hall in the Putnam area. They had no regular minister so the messages were delivered by members of the congregation, a circuit or itinerant minister, or a visiting speaker. In a report on the Christian Church in Ohio in May of 1870, mention is made to the recent organization in Zanesville and a membership of thirty-four.

Formal Incorporation

This group moved to the Lee Street area, where they continued to meet in Worrel's Hall, located over the Wells Drugstore on the corner of Linden Avenue and Lee Street until 1888. On July 12, 1886, the church was incorporated with the papers signed by W.B. Simmons, Charles F. Denny, Henry M. Gooden, James L. Gooden, Charles F. Allison, Samuel H. Walker, and Joseph Kemp. W. B. Simmons, a lay minister, J.A. Barr, George Musson and others served as ministers for the early church from 1870 to 1888.

First Church Building

Prior to 1886, some of the members purchased a lot on the corner of Park and Amelia Streets. Members contributed much of the labor of the frame structure with stained glass windows and a bell tower that was dedicated in 1888. Since the construction costs were not yet paid, on December 12, 1889, a mortgage for $1300.00 was signed and the debt was paid off in 1908. This church was called the Park Street Church of Christ and followed the practice of baptism by immersion, weekly communion, and governing itself by a representative board. E.S. DeMiller, the "First Minister", was called and served from May 1888 to January 1891 followed by George Van Pelt, M. J. Maxwell, Frank Mutchler Brundige Redenour, and O.W. Kile who served from 1891 to 1895. Additional ministers who served the church were: J.S. Bonham (1895-1896), Guy Hoover (1896-1898), W.O Thomas (1898), L.O. Kipp (1899), V.G. Hostetter (1900-1902), and Asa McDaniel (1902-1907).There were fifty members at that time.

Early Growth

In 1909, Rev. Hugh Wayt (1909-1921) came from Barnesville to be the minister. He increased the membership to 550. The Park Street Church was damaged by the flood of 1913 and was rendered no longer adequate so a new church home was indicated. A lot had been purchased earlier at the corner of Linden and McIntire Avenues but no plans had been developed for it until the flood. The church board, under the leadership of Wilbur Springer, recommended that a new church be built rather than repair the old structure.
Under the direction of Reverend Hugh Wayt, the brick house of worship at McIntire and Linden Avenues was built at the cost of $25,000.00. The new sanctuary, when combined with the Sunday School room, seated 1,200. When dedicated on November 8, 1914, it was felt that nothing more would ever be needed except the payment of the heavy mortgage.
In February, 1922, women were admitted to membership on the church board. The first Deaconesses elected to three year terms were Mrs. C.C. Lemert, Mrs. A.E. Hull, and Mrs. Parley Roach. Ladies elected to two year terms were: Mrs. George Bland, Mrs. J.L. Mercer, and Mrs. Frank Torbert. In 1923 as the congregation grew, an Associate minister, J. Sherman Posey was employed as the Religious Education Director. Sunday School attendance averaged over 500, so it looked as if this building would some day be unable to meet the needs of the people.
The congregation remained strong under the ministries of J.D. Waters (1922-1924), J. Quincy Biggs (1925-1929), Newton Carpenter (1929-1934), Paul Runk (1935-1943) and Walcott S. Harsell (1944-1945). In the early nineteen forties, the Board recommended that the lot adjoining the church be purchased for a future building program. This purchase was approved and the lot was bought for $2,000.00.

Post WWII

Reverend E.C. Traylor became minister in 1945, and very soon after, he realized that the building that had seemed adequate in 1914 was now too small. Depression and war years stopped expansion but a membership of over 700 necessitated using every inch of space. Some far thinking board members, under the leadership of George Smith began a Building Fund Committee and Campaign and raised $75,000.00. The committee searched for adequate available sites. The congregation met to make a decision on a new location but voted to remain at the same site. According to the original plans, the McIntire and Linden Church was to be enlarged with a $375,000.00 construction project to build a new sanctuary on the lot west of the church and to remodel the existing sanctuary as an educational wing. The board, under Trafford Dick as chairman, voted to divide the building phase into two phases since there was only $75,000.00 on hand. Before construction was begun, the leadership foresaw the need for a new location with ample parking. With the design for the proposed I-70 highway close by, it was then decided to relocate. With vision and courage, the congregation voted to abandon the McIntire Avenue site. In March 1959, they purchased seven and a half acres of the Roy Van Devere property at Dresden and Military Roads. The McIntire building was called the New Church of Christ for a decade, but officially became First Church after 1923. In the summer of 1960, the congregation voted to change the name to First Christian Church (Disciples) in line with the growing identity of the local churches and the brotherhood as the "Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)".
Contracts amounting to $248,930.00 were awarded in June of 1960 for the construction of a Fellowship Hall and Educational Building on the new site. Ground was broken on June 12, 1960 and the dedication was held on June 18, 1961. Charles Mitchell was chairman of the Building Committee. Reverend E.C. Traylor was minister; Al Bollerer, the Board Chairman; and Jack Henderson, the Sunday School Superintendent.

Our Current Home

Reverend Carl McClellan (1961-1968) succeeded Reverend Traylor in 1961. Much work was needed after moving into the new facility. The next several years saw the parking lot more than double in size, the organ debt retired, and payment of the chapel pews. Trading stamp books were collected and carpet bought for the platform in the Chapel as well as painting and other projects completed. Junior Church was held in the new chapel.
In 1964, our parsonage on McIntire Avenue was sold to make way for the new Post Office building. A new parsonage was purchased on Winding Way and the McClellans moved in. Rev. McClellan resigned in May 1968 and Rev. Charles Spangler (1968-1973) became our Minister. Plans for the sanctuary continued. On October 3, 1969, Al Bollerer announced plans for construction of the sanctuary and administrative area that would cost $225,000.00. Our church qualified for a loan at a lower interest rate through the newly offered Certificate Line of Credit Plan of the Board of Church Extension.
Our new sanctuary was dedicated on November 22, 1970, thus ending the first one hundred years of our church history. Also ending was the church parsonage era. The Spanglers, like most Ministers today, wanted to own their own home, so the parsonage was sold. Soon after, Rev. Spangler became ill, and the congregation was saddened by his untimely death in October 1973.
On August 1, 1974, Rev. Gordon W. Hagberg (1974-1983) became our Minister. In a new development, the Elders recommended that "The Board approve four women as Elders for one and a half years as a temporary trial" following a majority of Christian Churches in Ohio who had also made this change. In November, 1974, the Board elected Frances Bensonhaver, Alice Dick, and Nelle Matthews as the first women to serve as Elders. They and many others have served with distinction ever since.
On December 26, 1983, Dr. Herbert R. Hicks (1983-2002) came to Zanesville to assume the pastorate of First Christian Church. Two youth groups were added along with an additional 8:30 a.m. worship service on Sunday and a 5:00 p.m. service on Saturday evening. In 1985, Rev. Margo Connar became our first full-time, professionally trained and ordained Associate Minister. She served until August 1990 when she left to assume her own ministry in Bowling Green, Ohio. Rev. James Higginbotham was also an Associate Minister.
The Constitution and By-Laws were rewritten in 1987 and the church took the new name of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The previous name had been "First Christian Church (Disciples)". The Deaconesses and Deacons were combined into a unified Diaconate and women began serving at the Lord's Table for the first time.

Present Day

Dr. Herbert Hicks retired from the ministry on March 1, 2002 and was succeeded by Reverend Dawn Remster, our first female Minister. We continue to have three services each weekend. Emphasis has been to expand our youth programs and activities. We have an active membership of 700.
Ministers ordained by this congregation over our 135 year history were: Frank W. Mutchler (June 1893), George Bernard Wraith (July 1937), S. Edward Johnson (January 1948), Robert C. Lewis (November 1954), John L. Bray (November 1954), Norman E. Hagley (May 1961), Gary L. Marks (August 1967), R. Douglas Spangler (June 1957), and Steven Jerles (December 1989).
The year 2005 celebrated the 135th anniversary of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Zanesville and the impact that this community of faith has had on the countless lives in this city and county and the world beyond. Our world has changed considerably in 135 years but is still much in need of a relationship with our Lord and Savior. Our ministry may look a little different than it did in 1870 and yet the Good News of the Gospel that we have proclaimed for 135 years is still what the world needs to hear. And we will continue to proclaim Christ's love into the future.

Information compiled by Mrs. Caribeth Legats